That makes me as old as your mother.
1984, next to Michael Jackson, Prince was it. You couldn't turn on the radio or MTV (Get this! They played MUSIC back then! Imagine that!) without "Purple Rain" in your ears.
Great showman, producer, musical Jack of all trades.
The only thing I'm sorry about, once Weird Al wanted to do a spoof of "Raspberry Beret", and Prince refused. For anyone else in the music biz, getting parodied by Weird Al is proof you made it. It's a badge of honor. There's something... awkward... about feeling so precious or possessive of your work that you can't stand anyone having any fun at your expense. Time to lighten up.
That said, there will always be a purple dove in my soul.
Good night, Sweet Prince